He nodded grudgingly and stepped out again.
Kinney took a faux diamond collar out of her pocket and put it on the pup. “Let’s call her Bling, because she looks like a little princess now.” Her voice quavered a bit. “I hope whatever comes next doesn’t traumatize her, and she gets to have the great life she deserves.”
Squeezing Kinney’s free hand, Bridget nodded. “Me, too. I feel terrible sending her into the unknown. If we could just run for it—”
“Two of us couldn’t take down Tom. Plus, they’d only grab her back and sideline us.” She sighed. “Right now, this seems like our best chance to get to the heart of the problem.”
“I guess.” Bridget looked more discouraged than Kinney had ever seen her. She needed Beau badly.
On the way out, Kinney shook Tom’s hand again. “You guys do great work in sometimes thankless circumstances. I salute you.”
Back in the Prius, she checked her phone. “Operational,” she said. “As long as they don’t take that collar off, we can track our little Bling.”
They pulled away and parked well out of sight. Soon, other Mafia cars took their stations all around the building. Someone was likely to come before too long to collect the puppy from one of the many entrances. There was no telling where they’d deliver little Bling, but they were ready to follow.
Hours passed and Kinney began wondering if she’d been wrong, or if they’d removed the pretty collar. She hoped that practically burying it in the pup’s fluffy fur would make it unnoticeable to the person who claimed her. The signal from the tracker flashed steadily from inside the building, so the collar itself was still there.
Bridget had nodded off with her head against the passenger door of the Prius by the time the signal began moving. At first Kinney thought she was imagining it. Dusk had fallen and lights were coming on around them. Holding the phone up to her nose, she confirmed it. Then she texted the others: “Bling’s on the move.”
Gently touching Bridget’s shoulder, she said, “It’s go-time.”
She was awake in an instant. “Really? I can’t believe it worked!”
“All we know is that the collar itself is moving. But I can’t see why anyone would carry that around on its own. I wish there’d been another way to plant a tracker on the pup, but the technology isn’t there yet.”
A van pulled out of the loading bay at the side of the Animal Services building. Trucks and vans had been coming and going all day and there was nothing to set this one apart. It was white without identifying markings. But at least white was visible in the dusk.
She handed her phone to Bridget to track the signal and keep everyone posted. They set off in a well-spaced convoy of four sedans. They’d used the vehicles least likely to attract notice.
Kinney went first, keeping far enough back to avoid notice—automatically speeding up and slowing down in pace with the van.
“I get the feeling you’ve tailed a good few people before,” Bridget said.
“Yep, and I continued to practice so I wouldn’t get flustered when a real need comes along.”
“I’ve never seen you flustered on a 911,” Bridget said. “You’re always cool as a cucumber.”
“Not so. I’m like a duck floating along the surface. Down below, everything’s churning like crazy.”
“I try to be a duck, too,” Bridget said. “Beau’s a big help with that. I hope Whiskey brings you the same peace one day.”
“Me too,” Kinney said. “But don’t get me talking about Whiskey or I’ll lose sight of the van.”
They passed one of the many bronze Labrador retrievers that sat sentinel at the city border and kept going, out past Runaway Farm.
An odd feeling percolated in Kinney’s abdomen. It was either intuition, or a bad memory surfacing to warn her. She kept the feeling to herself. There was nothing concrete and no reason to worry the team.
“We’re in Wolff County,” Bridget said. “The site you visited with James must be their destination.”
“Possibly. They seem to have a lot of places locked down.”
The percolating feeling grew until she actually felt nauseated. This wasn’t typical nerves, because she did scary things all the time. Something was wrong. Very wrong. And she couldn’t figure out what.
“He’s turning off,” Bridget said, pointing.
There was just a second’s hesitation at the entrance before the van proceeded down the long lane that led to the property she’d seen with James the day before. Kinney pulled over and waited for the others to catch up.
“Text everyone that we’re going up the hill,” she said. “There’s a viewing platform where you can see the full property.”
They convoyed up the hill, with the lights turned off, and then parked and got out of the car. Everyone had dressed warmly, because nights were chilly in the hills. Several of them had binoculars, and Evie had a telephoto lens, but they’d be of little use without more light. All they had was a single streetlamp some distance away.
Kinney stared through her binoculars in silence as the van backed up to the outbuilding she’d suspected of being renovated. The headlights went off and there was the sound of a door slamming. At this rate, they wouldn’t be able to see a thing. But then floodlights came on and everything was clear as day.
“What are they doing?” Mim said, clutching Ari’s arm. “Can you see anything?”
“A guy’s getting out of the van and opening the side door. He’s pulling something out. It’s a—”
“Portable dog carrier,” Cori supplied. “He’s got the puppy.”
“Make that two puppies,” Kinney said, as he stacked one crate on top of the other.
They watched as the man pressed a code into a security panel on the wall and then used a key to unlock the door. He shouldered it open so that he could carry both crates inside at once.
Up on the hill, it seemed like they collectively held their breath. No one made a peep until the man emerged empty-handed.
“Oh my god,” Kinney said, leaning forward as if that would help her get a closer look. “I know that guy. It’s Wyatt Cobb.”
Bridget grabbed her jacket and pulled her back. “Who’s Wyatt Cobb?”
“The newest dog cop at the CCD. He seemed like a nice enough guy. I guess they got to him.”
“Well, what do we do now?” Ari said. “We know the bearded collie pup and at least one other dog is in there. Who knows how many more?”
Cori shrugged. “Easy. We need to break in.”
“Not that easy,” Bridget said. “It’s a secure site.”
“We’ve gotten inside secure buildings before,” Cori said. “Even Animal Services, to save Fritz, remember?”
“Oh yes, I remember. But we had someone inside helping us. Kinney, what do you think? Any way we could get this Cobb onside?”
Kinney lowered her binoculars and turned to them. She tried to speak but her mouth had dried suddenly and nothing came out.
“What?” Evie said, touching her arm. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Worse,” Kinney said. “Wyatt stopped before he got in the van and looked up here. And then he smiled right at us.”
“What?” Evie was alarmed. “Why would he do that? Our lights are out and there’s no way he’d see us. How could he know?”
The van pulled out, and just before he left the lot, Wyatt flashed his headlights twice. Saying goodbye.
“Because we’ve been played,” Kinney said. “My spidey sense was tingling most of the way here. Now I realize he was pausing slightly just often enough to make sure we were still behind him.”
“Does this mean the puppy isn’t really there?” Remi asked, clutching Leo close.
“Not necessarily. But it means they led us here for a reason.”
Cori let her binoculars dangle and rubbed her face with one gloved hand. “They baited us out.”
“Exactly,” Kinney said. “I mean, look at us. We’re almost all here. They could take the entire
Mafia down in one fell swoop. We’d get arrested for breaking and entering. Maybe worse.”
“What’s worse than that?” Remi asked.
“Fines,” Kinney said. “I know I can’t afford that. We’d have a record, which would affect our employment. At worst—and I really wouldn’t put it past them—they could seize our dogs.”
“What? How?” Cori said.
“It’s in regulation,” Kinney said. “If someone has a criminal record, the CCD can seize a dog if there’s the slightest concern about its welfare. Of course, that would be entirely at CCD discretion. I certainly don’t want Wyatt Cobb using his discretion about Whiskey.”
There was a moment of silence, as if someone had passed away. Their rebel spirit, possibly. Kinney knew that none of them could risk losing her own dog unless success was a sure thing. And this was far from a sure thing.
“So then what do we do?” Remi asked, at last.
“The only thing we can do,” Kinney said. “Disappoint them.”
“Agreed,” Bridget said. “We leave, regroup and then try something else.”
Cori’s boots crunched on gravel as she paced. Now she stopped and turned. Kinney expected outrage, but Cori surprised her. “We lost this battle. They got us good. But that doesn’t mean we’ve lost the war. We’ll prevail, as always.”
She stretched out a gloved hand and one by one the women set their hands on top of hers. They gave a quiet cheer and then dispersed into the night.
Chapter 20
“Gorgeous,” Evie said, stepping back to admire Kinney. She’d just finished applying makeup with a deft hand, at the same time as Sasha was doing a blowout on Kinney’s hair. While she was painting and plucking, Evie lectured Kinney on how to behave at the mayor’s formal reception to celebrate voluntarism in Dorset Hills. Kinney had been invited for her longstanding work on the board of a kids’ drop-in center. James was her date—not because she’d invited him, but because Cori had decided the event was the perfect dress rehearsal for the Fourth of July festival and dog obedience test, now just days away. It was a Miracle Makeover assignment, and Kinney was the one getting made over. Again. For a few seconds, she longed for her tan CCD uniform but that quickly passed. It was unlikely she’d ever wear it again, and that was for the best.
Marti Forrester’s little house was filled with laughing women offering advice on everything from clothing and shoes to clever one-liners. Kinney tried to absorb it all, but her main focus was Cori, who literally blocked the mirror so that every twitch of her orange fingers would be noticed.
“Don’t take your attention off Whiskey for one second,” she said. “This type of event has potential for every single one of his triggers: loud noises, sudden movements, and raised voices. All you need to do is move slowly through the crowd with a relaxed grip on his leash, speak calmly to different people, and above all, stay cool if there’s unexpected noise. In fact, expect unexpected noise and stay cool the whole the time.”
“And don’t fall off your shoes,” Evie added, dangling a pair of high-heeled sandals that belonged to Duff, whose feet happened to be the same size as Kinney’s.
“Or out of your dress,” Sasha said, holding up a sleek sapphire number that plunged in the front. “It’s a little small, but don’t worry, we’ll tape it.”
“Are you kidding me?” Kinney said. “How can I focus on Whiskey or the mayor if I’m worried about falling out of my dress?”
“I wouldn’t worry about the dress,” Evie said. “You’d recover from exposing yourself but not from losing control of the dog. Besides, if people are staring at your décolletage they’re less likely to notice any missteps by the dog.”
Cori clapped gloved hands. “There won’t be any missteps by the dog. He’s doing very well. All you need to do is be hyper-attuned to your surroundings. That’s your forte anyway.”
Kinney nodded. That had always been a strength. But there were so many other things to tune into as well.
“When you’ve got the mayor alone, see if you can find out anything about the puppies,” Bridget said.
“Like he’d just spill that,” Cori said.
“You’d be surprised at what he’ll say sometimes,” Evie said. “He’s a complicated mix of sly and stupid. It’s easier dealing with just one or the other.”
“Well, first I have to get his attention,” Kinney said. “He never seems to know me.”
“That’s what the dress is for,” Evie said. “Plus, it’s his job to talk to everyone being honored at the reception. Once you’ve got him cornered, start with something unexpected.”
“My plan is to talk about Clarence Dayton,” Kinney said, getting up from the hair and makeup station at the kitchen table and moving into the living room for wardrobe. “His office never followed through on their agreement to discuss the Dayton estate.”
Evie winced. “You might be taking on too much for one short event.”
“Well, I can’t dive right into a chat about missing puppies and Mafia traps. So I might as well try that first.”
“Don’t chase him off,” Bridget said. “You could try chitchat about rare breeds in Dog Town. See if he spills anything about his dastardly scheme.”
Blowing out a long breath, Kinney slipped into the tight dress and permitted herself to be taped up.
“It’s also a hot date,” Remi said, smiling. “Remember to have fun.”
“Impossible. This is a bigger ordeal than the Fourth of July event. That I won’t need to do in heels and half a dress.”
Cori grinned. “Didn’t I mention the exam is black tie, too?”
“I’m not laughing,” Kinney said. “Mostly because I can’t breathe.”
“Think of it as a game,” Remi said. “Just do your best to overcome all the obstacles in 90 minutes.” She tried to offer Leo, but Kinney shook her head. Whiskey’s long guard hairs had found their way onto the blue dress already.
“Don’t forget about Rocky,” Cori said. “This will be an even bigger challenge for him, since he doesn’t like crowds or strangers being too familiar. Keep an eye on his posture and demeanor, and tell James to take a breather outside on the patio if the dog’s getting overstimulated. You two need to look out for each other.”
“Got it.” Kinney let Duff arrange a shawl over her shoulders. She’d never quite seen the point of a shawl. A cardigan was a more sensible choice. Turning to Cori, she said, “A rescue raid would be so much easier, you know? I’d rather squeeze through a culvert.”
“Right? Better you than me, girl.” Cori offered a rare pat on Kinney’s shoulder. “Kick ass and take names. Bonus points if you stab the mayor with those shoes.”
James’ eyes widened when she walked down the front steps. “Wow. You look amazing. The Cinderella of dog cops.”
That made her smile. She felt desperately uncomfortable but James knew how to offer a compliment that wouldn’t make her feel more self-conscious. He looked as handsome and comfortable in his tuxedo as he did in jeans, but she definitely preferred him casual.
“It’s just a costume,” she said, taking his hand for the last steps. “To help us get the job done.”
“You wear it well.” He let Whiskey into the back of the SUV, and then helped her into the front seat. “I wish I had a pumpkin to transform into a nice ride.”
“I’m not one for fancy coaches,” Kinney said, after he got behind the wheel. “My family is working class, and barely that. When I moved here I was happy to get away from people’s perceptions. Dorset Hills was a different town, then. Nobody judged.”
James drove down the road past the new bronze Pomeranian in the parkette on the corner, and headed for the city core. “I’ve never seen a more classless place than Dorset Hills,” he said. Then he laughed. “I guess I mean class-conscious. Money and family don’t seem to matter much here. What brings status is the dog you own, how you serve dogs, and most importantly, how you support the City brand.”
“Interesting,” Kinney said. “I hadn’t rea
lly thought about it that way. Of course, I have a problem dog, serve other dogs by nefarious means, and undercut the mayor whenever possible. So I guess I don’t have much class by the new definition either.”
James reached over and squeezed her hand. “You are plenty classy by any standard, Kinney Butterfield.”
Heat tingled in her hand and seared up her arm. She tried to ignore it. That kind of thing could derail a mission. She needed all her focus and then some. But her eyes kept drifting down to his hand, resting on top of hers on her knee. His fingers felt rough, as if he’d built some callouses working on the farm. He wasn’t the same guy who arrived in Dorset Hills, either.
To distract herself, she filled him in on what Cori had said about the dogs.
“I am worried about Rocky,” James said. “It’s one thing to mingle with a crowd outdoors at a fair. It’s another to be trapped in a room with other dogs. There’s no room for escape.”
“Evie said the reception room has a patio. We can escape out there to give the dogs a breather.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said, pulling into the public parking lot outside Bellington Square. He gave her hand another squeeze. “We’re going to rock this dress rehearsal.”
She smiled up at him. “And the exam. In a week, we’re home free.”
Inside, everyone was circling Mayor Bradshaw like well-dressed turkey vultures, waiting for an opportunity to swoop in for a political snack. She wondered how she’d penetrate that crowd even to start a conversation, let alone cover all the ground she’d planned.
She hadn’t yet told James about what had happened with the bearded collie pup and the Mafia’s aborted mission to Wolff County. He had enough to worry about tonight without that. Getting distracted by her goals would take his focus off Rocky.
After a couple of circuits around the room, Kinney relaxed a little. The dogs were calm and composed, and no one stared at her as if she didn’t belong. In fact, the only one paying any attention to her at all was Madison Parker, who was trying to hold up her camera and her black dress at the same time. Someone needed to tape that girl in properly.
Bold and Blue in Dog Town: (Dog Town 9) Page 17